{"id":2485524,"date":"2025-09-11T19:54:01","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T23:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gcu-creates-pathway-to-address-labor-gap-in-construction\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T20:01:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T00:01:27","slug":"gcu-creates-pathway-to-address-labor-gap-in-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gcu-creates-pathway-to-address-labor-gap-in-construction\/","title":{"rendered":"GCU creates pathway to address labor gap in construction"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgcu-creates-pathway-to-address-labor-gap-in-construction%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2485524&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Grand Canyon University (GCU) adn McCarthy Building Companies (MBC) have partnered to create a pre-apprenticeship pathway designed to address the labor shortage in Arizona&#8217;s construction industry.GCU&#8217;s Center for Workforce Development will offer courses beginning this fall in civil construction and mechanical\/plumbing, with additional classes in concrete and HVAC starting in 2026. The program aims to introduce students to various construction trades and prepare them for entry-level careers by providing hands-on experience and industry insights.<\/p>\n<p>This collaboration responds to a growing demand for skilled workers, as the construction sector in Arizona is expanding rapidly and faces a notable workforce gap due to retirements and increased project volume.MBC supports the initiative by funding scholarships, faculty, and related resources, helping students access financial aid once the pathway is officially approved as a program by the Department of Education. <\/p>\n<p>Students will start with a broad construction course and then specialize in a trade of their choice,with MBC providing mentorship and potential apprenticeship opportunities. Apprenticeships offer competitive wages and a structured four-year career progression. This initiative is seen as a &#8220;win-win,&#8221; benefiting both students seeking rewarding careers and employers needing qualified talent. Additionally, MBC operates an Innovation &#038; Craft Workforce Center in Chandler, Arizona, providing further ongoing training for employees in the region. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">GCU creates pathway to address labor gap in construction<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2227414\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash;&nbsp;Grand Canyon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/university\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University<\/a> and McCarthy Building Companies have created a pre-<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/job-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">apprenticeship<\/a> pathway for students interested in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/construction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">construction<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>GCU&rsquo;s Center for Workforce Development announced this week it will offer classes in civil construction, mechanical\/plumbing, concrete, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The civil construction and mechanical\/plumbing courses will start this fall, while the other two will begin in fall 2026.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3804477\/group-urges-trump-to-help-save-chicago-before-its-too-late\/\">Group urges Trump to help save Chicago &#8216;before it&rsquo;s too late&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3804480\/naval-academy-law-enforcement-respond-threats\/\">Naval Academy on lockdown after &#8216;reports of threats&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3804310\/appeals-court-lifts-block-of-planned-parenthood-defunding-in-one-big-beautiful-bill-act\/\">Appeals court lifts block of Planned Parenthood defunding in One Big Beautiful Bill Act<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The Phoenix university is&nbsp;&ldquo;proud to work with [MBC] to create meaningful opportunities for students who might not otherwise have thought about or known how to pursue a career in construction,&rdquo; said Shelly Seitz, director of GCU&rsquo;s Center for Workforce Development.<\/p>\n<p>This pathway is a &ldquo;win-win,&rdquo; said Eric Fields, regional self-perform leader for MBC&rsquo;s Southwest region.<\/p>\n<p>He said students will be introduced to &ldquo;career paths in the construction trades, and employers get candidates who are informed and committed to developing their careers in the construction industry.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The construction industry needs workers because of a &ldquo;massive shortage,&rdquo;&nbsp;Seitz told The Center Square.<\/p>\n<p>She added the construction industry is &ldquo;booming&rdquo; in Arizona. &ldquo;There are buildings going up, and there are cranes everywhere.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Jobs are opening up as the construction industry grows in cities and employees retire, Seitz said. She <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >noted worker shortages exist<\/a> not just in construction but in all trades.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, Fields said, finding trade employees in today&rsquo;s economy &ldquo;is getting tougher and tougher due to the generational gap.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>MBC realized it needed to build its construction workforce &ldquo;from the ground up,&rdquo; Fields told The Center Square.<\/p>\n<p>By 2030, the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity and the U.S. Department of Labor&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/oeo.az.gov\/workforce-planning\/builditaz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">estimate&nbsp;<\/a>20,000 new construction trade jobs will need to be filled to meet the state&rsquo;s demand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For the pathway to meet the demand, MBC supplied money for scholarships, faculty and other related items,&nbsp;Seitz said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3495634\/virginia-youth-energy-job-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">VIRGINIA PUTS $1.3 MILLION INTO YOUTH ENERGY JOB TRAINING<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Seitz explained the project is called a &ldquo;pathway&rdquo; because it still needs its curriculum approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Once that happens, the project will be called a &ldquo;program.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>After a program is established, the federal government will make financial aid available to students, Seitz noted. This will allow them to apply for grants, loans or scholarships.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>According to Seitz, if a pathway becomes a program, companies will still provide funding to support it, but the money will be allocated to an institutional aid fund, which allows students to apply for scholarships.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fields said the company partnered with GCU for reasons such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">workforce development<\/a> center&rsquo;s electrical program, which has had over 490 electrical pre-apprenticeship and manufacturing CNC machinist students since 2022.<\/p>\n<p>The partnership with GCU is a&nbsp;&ldquo;great pipeline&rdquo; for MBC, Seitz said. &ldquo;They don&rsquo;t have to go find their own talent.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Fields noted forming this partnership allows MBC to &ldquo;find young, qualified [workers] that we can put into our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sarah-huckabee-sanders-unveils-platform-for-2022-ark-governor-race\/\" title=\"Sarah Huckabee Sanders unveils platform for 2022 Ark. governor race\">training programs<\/a> to build the workforce for tomorrow.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>MBC worked with GCU to develop a two-semester course for the pathway.<\/p>\n<p>During the first semester, students will take a general construction course that explores pipe fitting, plumbing, HVAC, electrical and other industries, according to Fields.<\/p>\n<p>The following semester, students will choose an area that interests them the most and do a &ldquo;deep dive&rdquo; into that subject, he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>GCU instructors will teach the courses for this pathway, Fields said. He added MBC will come in one day every semester to talk about what it&rsquo;s like working in a particular trade.<\/p>\n<p>Seitz said GCU recruits students at high schools and finds them during its work with &ldquo;underprivileged families and people that are marginalized.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Fields explained if MBC were going to hire students, they would be evaluated for six months, then put in a four-year apprenticeship program. During this time, pay would increase as they moved up in their apprenticeship, Fields said.<\/p>\n<p>He said the wages that the building company offers for its apprenticeship program are &ldquo;very competitive&rdquo; for the construction industry.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There is a lot of opportunity within the industry to have a career and have a great-paying job that can be rewarding over time,&rdquo; he explained.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Seitz said this new pathway with MBC is a way for people &ldquo;to have careers,&rdquo; which will allow them the ability to move into the &ldquo;upper middle class.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3799521\/arizona-denies-doj-request-voter-data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ARIZONA DENIES DOJ REQUEST FOR MILLIONS OF VOTERS&rsquo; DATA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>She added these trade programs provide students with the opportunity to change the trajectory of their lives and those of their families.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Besides this partnership with GCU, MBC opened an<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mccarthy.com\/insights\/new-innovation-and-craft-workforce-center-in-chandler-ariz-unveiled-by-mccarthy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;Innovation &amp; Craft Workforce Center<\/a>&nbsp;two years ago in the Phoenix suburb Chandler. This is where the company provides ongoing education to its employees in various areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecentersquare.com%2Farizona%2Farticle_f0cf4318-af3d-4011-a410-e9799db180e6.html%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook%26utm_campaign%3Duser-share\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GCU, McCarthy launch pre-apprenticeship for construction jobs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2869,"featured_media":2485525,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP23320682562358.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5919,63159,63160],"class_list":["post-2485524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-construction","tag-gcu","tag-labor-gap"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP23320682562358.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2485524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2869"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2485524"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2485524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2485533,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2485524\/revisions\/2485533"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2485525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2485524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2485524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2485524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}